Saturday, May 10. 2008

This GN freight car is the only true hopper in the IRM collection at this time. It now resides on Track 40 east of Barn 4. We are hoping to start serious restoration work on the car this season, beginning with structural and cosmetic steel repairs. This all depends on funding, so please consider a donation to the Freight Car Department.

For more of the car's history we can add that the car was built in July, 1957 as a type PS-3 hopper by Pullman Standard Car Mfg. Co. in the plant at Butler, PA. This was designed as a 70 ton car (CAPY 140,000) but that number was increased to 77 tons as the AAR allowed for heavier axle loadings in the late 1960's. Current reweigh stenciling indicates it was last processed during GN/BN ownership at "station name" SM in October 1970. SM was the BN designation replacing T in Great Northern times for Hillyard in Spokane, WA.

Here is the ROSTER info for this car. Note that at this time the on line Roster has not been corrected to reflect the Great Northern number and reporting marks, although this is the restoration plan. This car arrived at IRM from the Wisconsin & Calumet as WICT 7010 after it became surplus on the BN and they acquired it.

Thursday, May 1. 2008

Our Pennsylvania Railroad four wheel bobber caboose, 476199, is getting some much needed work. For you die hard fans here is the ROSTER info for this car.

Two new train doors are being made in the Barn 4 Woodshop. Stop by and see how they are coming.

Fitting the Joints

On 4/5/08, the new doors are taking shape in our woodshop. Left to right, we see Wayne Baksic, John Faulhaber, and Victor Humphreys working on the new doors. Parts are being fitted for the second door, while the first one, in front of John, is assembled and ready for the gluing table.

Square It Up

On 4/9/08, Victor Humprheys is checking the square on the first new door which has just been glued up. The door rests in our circa 1925 glue press mfd by Greenlee of Rockford, IL.

Baby Smooth

By 4/16/08, the two new doors have been assembled and glued. Here we see John Nelligan at the outfeed end of the Berlin sander ready to 'catch' the door, while Victor Humphreys on left and John Faulhaber on right feed one of the panels into the machine.

Drilling Square Holes

On 4/26 Victor Humphreys was able to snap a pic of me (Bob Kutella) using our mortising machine on the way to two new windows for the caboose. This was partly due to requests from folks wondering why there were no images of me on this BLOG.

April 30, 2008

Now, That is a CLAMP!

John Faulhaber has finished the fitting of a new window sash for the caboose doors we have fabricated. He is placing it into our Greenlee press for the glue to set up, and be ready for the next steps by Saturday.

Finishing Touches

John Nelligan is laboring over the finishing touches on the new doors, adding tracks for the window in the previous picture. This has an unusual arrangement with the window a sort of drop sash riding in framing and tracks on the OUTSIDE of the door.

Thursday, May 1. 2008

Left to right, John Faulhaber, Dr. Ed Walsh, Dave Bates, and John Nelligan in the UP caboose. The two 'Johns' dropped by to 'inspect' progress as work was being done on the train door on the east end of the car.

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Bill McCoy about A Real Moving ExperienceWed, 02-07-2018 11:07Where did the wood PFE reefer in
the moving days pictures come from.
I know we have the beautiful R30-28
fully restored. This car doesn't
appear in [...]

Gerry Dettloff about Shorts from the Electric Car DeptSun, 02-04-2018 19:43If you want to keep up with the Car
Dept you should follow the Hicks
Blog. Randy post Car Dept news all
the time.

Ray Schmid about Shorts from the Electric Car DeptTue, 01-30-2018 13:48Thanks Roger! I enjoyed the
Michigan Electric 28 update with
pictures. Glad to see our IRM
President take a moment for a
picture. I'm sure he is [...]

Bobb Losse Sr about L&N 314 Alco FA updateMon, 01-29-2018 13:58Electrical work looks good. Stay
the course. What were you planning
to do with the brake schedule? We
have installed 26 FNL to replace
the 24 RL with [...]

Matt Maloy about Santa Fe 92, The History and The PlanSat, 01-27-2018 16:39Would the Illinois Railway Museum
have any interest in saving or
acquiring Metra F40C #610? I'm sure
diesel department has more than
enough projects [...]

Dick Cridlebaugh about More from the Silver Pony CrewFri, 01-26-2018 20:31Jan 2018-sorry I have not been up
to help on Silver Pony. I will send
another check soon and hope to get
there. it is about 165 miles for
me. I did [...]

Jeff Brady about Active work force in Barn 4 annexThu, 01-25-2018 15:45Ray,
Good to hear from you. Norm and I
plus 3 people from the Steam Shop
have been riveting the front end
framing. I have had to drop out due
to [...]

Sandy Millsap about More from Steam AlleySun, 01-21-2018 06:59I just want to comment that I read
your blog often and learned many
years ago how dedicated you all
are; from Mr. Berkman and mr late
husband Bill [...]

Raphael Chapman about Active work force in Barn 4 annexThu, 01-18-2018 22:25Up until now, I haven't heard any
news on 451 since it arrived from
Trollyville. Is it a good time to
resume on that car?

Ted Miles about Active work force in Barn 4 annexThu, 01-18-2018 20:30I was wonder what is the correct
number of the Ggreen Bay & Western?
My IRM Roster has it down as #110;
other places say 109. Will the real
number, [...]

Roger Kramer about Active work force in Barn 4 annexThu, 01-18-2018 18:46Hello Ray I will get some updated
pictures this coming weekend. I do
know that most of the riveting has
been completed. Thanks Rogerr